Bl**dy First Choice

[Rod]

They have today cancelled my long awaited holiday to Kenya at the end of Feb.

I realise the situation is not good in parts of the country but the Foreign Office have downgraded from 'don't go to Kenya' to 'avoid some parts' just a few days ago.

First Choice have said they have cancelled all holidays there for the next 14 weeks.

Went to the shop to get my refund and they offered me all the money back apart from the £90 credit card booking fee. I managed to keep extra pleasant and told them in no uncertain terms I wanted that back as well. Oh yes and it will take about 10 working days to get the money back unless I want to book another holiday with them

Now if I cancel the holiday with less than 28 days notice I would have to pay 70% of the cost - They cancel and what compensation am I entitled to ? Bu**er all.

So I am now waiting on a decision from Thomas Cook to see if they are going to fly there at the end of Feb. If not where shall we go? Caribbean ? Malaysia ? Maldives ?

[Scapa Diva]

Originally Posted by Rod

They have today cancelled my long awaited holiday to Kenya at the end of Feb.

I realise the situation is not good in parts of the country but the Foreign Office have downgraded from 'don't go to Kenya' to 'avoid some parts' just a few days ago.

First Choice have said they have cancelled all holidays there for the next 14 weeks.

Went to the shop to get my refund and they offered me all the money back apart from the £90 credit card booking fee. I managed to keep extra pleasant and told them in no uncertain terms I wanted that back as well. Oh yes and it will take about 10 working days to get the money back unless I want to book another holiday with them

Now if I cancel the holiday with less than 28 days notice I would have to pay 70% of the cost - They cancel and what compensation am I entitled to ? Bu**er all.

So I am now waiting on a decision from Thomas Cook to see if they are going to fly there at the end of Feb. If not where shall we go? Caribbean ? Malaysia ? Maldives ?

On the Thomas Cook front I would be surprised if they change on this subject as MY Travel own Thomas Cook they also who First choice holidays to name but a few.
Also just apoint first choice do have a statement on thier web site stating they will refund all fees including any admin fees. Far better to go somewhere else...
Sorry dont wont to be the bearer of bad news

[Rod]

Originally Posted by Scapa Diva

On the Thomas Cook front I would be surprised if they change on this subject as MY Travel own Thomas Cook they also who First choice holidays to name but a few.
Also just apoint first choice do have a statement on thier web site stating they will refund all fees including any admin fees. Far better to go somewhere else...
Sorry dont wont to be the bearer of bad news

There are several reputable companies that are still going to Kenya and now I am booked with a different company.
Interestingly First choice would take 70% of my money if I cancelled with 28 days notice but they will give you no compensation if they cancel. Thieving bast**ds

[Diving Dude]

OK, just say they fly you in and the shite really hits the fan, would you then claim that they shouldn't have flown you in and then claim against them?

Say the situation worsened while you were there and you had to fly out straight away, would you pay for a scheduled flight?

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by Rod

Interestingly First choice would take 70% of my money if I cancelled with 28 days notice but they will give you no compensation if they cancel. Thieving bast**ds

Two ways to look at it really. I would guess that of your flight, the vast majority of people don't want to go anymore. So First Choice can either:

a) make everyone pay anyway as the FCO aren't advising against travel to all parts of the country

b) cancel the flight and give everyone their money back

c) fly out with an empty plane and make a huge loss

If they did (a), there would be a lot more unhappy people. And I would imagine they're taking a hit. I'd go somewhere else. Things in Africa tend to go wrong very quickly. It'll still be there next year. Plenty of other places to go. Can't you get a last minute cheapie?

Jason

[Rod]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

OK, just say they fly you in and the shite really hits the fan, would you then claim that they shouldn't have flown you in and then claim against them?

Say the situation worsened while you were there and you had to fly out straight away, would you pay for a scheduled flight?

I am paying for a scheduled flight. If it came to it then yes I woukld pay for scheduled out of there, no problem.

[Rod]

Originally Posted by JasonP

Two ways to look at it really. I would guess that of your flight, the vast majority of people don't want to go anymore. So First Choice can either:

a) make everyone pay anyway as the FCO aren't advising against travel to all parts of the country

b) cancel the flight and give everyone their money back

c) fly out with an empty plane and make a huge loss

If they did (a), there would be a lot more unhappy people. And I would imagine they're taking a hit. I'd go somewhere else. Things in Africa tend to go wrong very quickly. It'll still be there next year. Plenty of other places to go. Can't you get a last minute cheapie?

Jason

Actually most people are re-booking with Kuoni or Somak as they actually want to go to Kenya.
If the FCO say it is too dangerous then I would agree but they say it is OK. A couple of years ago we had bombings on the tube and buses in London. Was it safe to come to England - yes, even London - Yes.
Secondly First Choice did not want to give me a full refund as I would not book a holiday to somewhere else with them, that was a bit shabby I think.
As for compensation? Well what do you think?

[Diving Dude]

Originally Posted by Rod

I am paying for a scheduled flight. If it came to it then yes I woukld pay for scheduled out of there, no problem.

l would suspect that you are in the minority and that the majority would expect to be flown out at First Choices expense.

So therefore, in business terms in makes sense for FC to cancel now.

[Rod]

Originally Posted by Diving Dude

l would suspect that you are in the minority and that the majority would expect to be flown out at First Choices expense.

So therefore, in business terms in makes sense for FC to cancel now.

Business terms then maybe it does make sense but everyone is coming in on scheduled flights so going home the same way should be no problem.
My gripe is I cancel they charge me 70%, they cancel then nothing, fair ?

[JasonP]

Originally Posted by Rod

Actually most people are re-booking with Kuoni or Somak as they actually want to go to Kenya.

You can't possibly know this. If most people are rebooking, was there really that much spare capacity on flights? I find it hard to believe.

I went to the Maldives in peak season a few weeks after one of the Gulf wars kicked off. The second one, I think. The Maldives is a very long way from the Gulf and they rerouted it so it didn't stop, but they still ended up combining the Manchester and London flights and there there were still spare seats on the plane. People had cancelled in droves.

Jason